One I liked a lot today, one I thought was perfectly fine, and one that was family-friendly.
Summer Of 84 (2018)
Directed by François Simard, Anouk Whissell & Yoann-Karl Whissell
Starring: Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis, Caleb Emery, Cory Gruter-Andrew, Tiera Skovbye, Rich Sommer
Plot Synopsis: (via IMDb)
After suspecting that their police officer neighbor is a serial killer, a group of teenage friends spend their summer spying on him and gathering evidence, but as they get closer to discovering the truth, things get dangerous.
My Opinion:
Watched this immediately when I saw it’s from the directors of Turbo Kid. This isn’t as fun as that one but both later grew on me a lot. I think I just found the end of this so jarring that I didn’t know what to make of it but, later, decided it’s great that something took me by surprise for a change. It’s not perfect. It’s too slow & is hurt by Stranger Things comparisons but it still felt refreshingly different to me.
I can’t explain why but Stranger Things has a “trying too hard” vibe for me that I didn’t get from this movie, despite both trying to convince us of their ‘80s settings. I can certainly see the comparisons, though, with both having groups of likeable teenage ‘80s kids fighting against something evil. I’m not big on Stranger Things – I think I prefer Summer Of 84. I’d say Stranger Things is better is on character development, which was a bit weak in Summer Of 84. Oh, and I found the acting a little dodgy, which isn’t something I often notice. Plus the dialogue was a little… clunky? Strangers Things feels more polished but I’ve thought more about this movie since it ended than I ever did about that show.
This is a movie I think I’m wanting to love, as that ending really did elevate things. I wish the rest of the movie had lived up to that as, overall, this had the potential to be great. Can see it possibly becoming a cult favorite, though? Kind of like Turbo Kid. Is that a cult hit? Both of them should be. I think it would be deserved, as I do think Summer Of 84 has something unique about it despite it seeming very similar to other things in this genre on the surface. These directors certainly have potential. I’m curious about their other work now…
My Rating: 7.5/10
The Boogeyman (2023)
Directed by Rob Savage
Based on “The Boogeyman” by Stephen King
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, David Dastmalchian
Plot Synopsis: (via IMDb)
Still reeling from the tragic death of their mother, a teenage girl and her younger sister find themselves plagued by a sadistic presence in their house and struggle to get their grieving father to pay attention before it’s too late.
My Opinion:
Enjoyed this, but I’m always forgiving when it comes to Stephen King adaptations. As it’s a short story, I thought they fleshed this out well. I liked the sisters & their relationship. Can’t say it’s something we haven’t seen before but it had decent characters & an effectively creepy villain, which is more than can be said for a lot of horror. Some good imagery & I loved the use of that light-up ball. I want one!
My Rating: 7/10
Haunted Mansion (2023)
Directed by Justin Simien
Based on The Haunted Mansion by Walt Disney
Starring: LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto
Plot Synopsis: (via Wikipedia)
In the film, Gabbie (Dawson) and Travis (Chase W. Dillon) enlist the aid of a team (Stanfield, Haddish, Wilson, and DeVito) to help exorcise the ghosts around them.
My Opinion:
I appreciate family-friendly Halloween movies. There are better ones but this was enjoyable enough with likeable characters. I saw the Eddie Murphy one just two years ago & barely remember it so think I prefer this one. But also think I’ll forget this one in two years too… Oh, it’s way too dark & drab-looking, though. Did it have to look so dull just to set the mood? And I kept picturing Ahsoka! (Not a bad thing)
My Rating: 6/10
Cinema Parrot Disco 